Written Answers Thursday 8 October 2009

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under 15, (b) 15 to 18, (c) 19 to 21 and (d) over 21 were admitted to hospitals in the Lothians to receive treatment for excess alcohol consumption in 2008-09.

Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22376 on 21 April 2009 which contains the most recent data available (2007-08) for the age groups requested. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Apprenticeships

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many apprentices have been made redundant since the apprenticeship guarantee was created and how many have found alternative training or employment.

Fiona Hyslop: Skills Development Scotland’s database shows that since February this year 397 apprentices have been registered as redundant. One hundred and thirty-seven of those were made redundant since 10 June, the date the Scottish Government’s Adopt an Apprentice scheme was implemented.

  Since February 208 apprentices have been re-employed as apprentices following redundancy, including 149 through the Adopt an Apprentice Scheme.

  Training providers have a contractual obligation to try to secure alternative employment for trainees who lose their jobs. I know that, between March and September this year, ConstructionSkills matched over 200 redundant apprentices with alternative employers.

Construction Industry

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will participate in the UK Government’s Low Carbon Review of the Construction Industry.

Jim Mather: Yes. Scottish Government officials have been in touch with counterparts in the UK Department for Business Innovation and Skills to establish more clearly the scope of the review and how best to participate as it proceeds over the next few months.

Digital Technology

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the announcement on broadband for rural Scotland by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in a news release of 23 September 2009, what the timescales for upgrades to exchanges will be in the (a) Western Isles, (b) Argyll and Bute, (c) Highland, (d) Moray, (e) Orkney Islands and (f) Shetland Islands council areas.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the announcement on broadband for rural Scotland by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in a news release of 23 September 2009, whether there will be upgrades to British Telecom exchanges in the (a) Western Isles, (b) Argyll and Bute, (c) Highland, (d) Moray, (e) Orkney Islands and (f) Shetland Islands council areas in order to provide increased access to broadband internet connections.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the announcement on broadband for rural Scotland by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in a news release of 23 September 2009, who will decide which exchanges will be upgraded.

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27750 on 7 October 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Drug Misuse

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many government-funded needle-exchange programmes operate in pharmacies in the east end of Glasgow compared with September 2008.

Shona Robison: Information on the number of government-funded injecting equipment provision services operating in pharmacies in the east end of Glasgow is not held centrally.

  On 30 June 2009, the Information Services Division of NHS Scotland published its report Provision of Injecting Equipment in Scotland 2007-08, which detailed the findings of a survey of injecting equipment provision in Scotland in 2007-08. This survey, which was commissioned as part of the Hepatitis C Phase 2 Action Plan, does report on provision of services on a health board basis. The survey found that there were a total of 44 pharmacy-based needle exchange services in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in 2007-08. However, this figure reflects only those pharmacies that responded to the survey and gaps in the data does exist. Therefore, the actual number of pharmacy-based injecting equipment provision services may be higher.

  The information from 2007-08 survey provides a baseline of injecting equipment provision in Scotland at the start of the Hepatitis C Phase 2 Action Plan. A follow-up survey covering the period 2008-09 is planned to run in February 2010, with the results being published in November 2010.

Education

Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations have been agreed following the review of Learning and Teaching Scotland.

Keith Brown: I am pleased to be able to announce to Parliament the outcome of the review of Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS).

  The review has taken place as part of the simplification of the public sector landscape. A fundamental review of LTS was undertaken and, more importantly, the tasks and functions that the education community requires from national bodies and from government.

  The findings of the review clearly indicate that there is a need for a national body that provides guidance, support and advice on matters related to learning and teaching, the curriculum, Glow and ICT in schools, and that Learning and Teaching Scotland should undertake this role, in conjunction with other organisations where appropriate.

  Having considered the findings I have agreed the following recommendations. These are that:

  LTS should be retained as an non-departmental public body,

  LTS should have a core remit of areas for which it has lead responsibility (see below for further details),

  LTS should make contributions to a number of other areas where it is important that it is involved,

  LTS and the Scottish Government to agree additional areas where it may make a contribution,

  A process should be established to ensure that the annual work plan of LTS is formally agreed with COSLA as well as the Scottish Government,

  LTS should have a single budget allocation from the Scottish Government that is negotiated annually although it is recognised that amount may need to be revised in year if circumstances change.

  COSLA has agreed to be involved in an annual discussion with LTS about setting of the priorities for the organisation. In addition, COSLA will nominate a representative as observer to provide advice to the LTS board.

  The Scottish Government will now work with Learning and Teaching Scotland to implement the recommendations, involving other key stakeholders.

  Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) Core Remit:

  Curriculum – to keep the curriculum 3-18 under review and provide advice and support, including quality assured resources, on the curriculum 3-18 to ministers and the education system;

  Assessment – to provide advice and support to ministers and the education system on assessment to support learning, with support from SQA as appropriate, and to work with SQA to ensure the availability of quality assured resources to support assessment;

  Glow and ICT in Schools – to provide advice and support to ministers and the education system on the use of ICT to support education, to establish and maintain technology standards for education, to ensure practitioners have easy online access to advice and support, including digital resources and to manage the provision of the national ICT infrastructure to support education, currently Glow, the LTS online service and the local authority Interconnect;

  As a public body, LTS will have a number of generic core responsibilities (in addition to its various legal duties), including:

  Ensuring the services it provides are high quality, continually improving, efficient and responsive to need (National Outcome 15 in the National Performance Framework),

  Ensuring that everything it does contributes to creating a more successful country with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish through sustainable economic growth (the National Purpose in the Government Economic Strategy),

  Ensuring it works with other public bodies to make a planned contribution to the achievement of the National Outcomes that maximises outcomes and minimises net public sector costs.

Electricity

Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of electricity production came from (a) renewable energy, (b) nuclear energy and (c) hydrocarbons in each of the last five years.

Jim Mather: The following table shows the percentage shares of electricity generation by fuel, in Scotland, for the last five years for which data are currently available.

  Generation of Electricity By Fuel in Scotland, 2003-07

  

 Year
 Fuel


 Renewable Energy
 Nuclear
 Hydrocarbons1
 Other2


 2003
 7.5%
 37.2%
 53.8%
 1.5%


 2004
 11.7%
 36.1%
 50.6%
 1.6%


 2005
 13.2%
 37.9%
 47.5%
 1.3%


 2006
 13.3%
 27.1%
 57.3%
 2.3%


 2007
 17.1%
 25.6%
 54.8%
 2.5%



  Source: Energy Trends, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

  Notes:

  1. Hydrocarbons includes coal, oil and gas.

  2. Other includes hydroelectric (pumped) and non-biodegradable wastes.

  More information on electricity generation data can be found at:

  http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/trends/index.html.

Energy Efficiency

Christopher Harvie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to assess energy usage and promote energy conservation in mobile homes.

Jim Mather: The Energy Assistance Package offers insulation and heating measures for eligible households living in residential mobile homes. These will proceed once technical development of the most appropriate measures for mobile homes has been completed in the near future.

  The Scottish Government also funds a number of schemes managed by the Energy Saving Trust which provide support for permanently sited mobile homes.

  These steps reflect Scottish Government research on mobile homes which highlighted affordable warmth and fuel poverty as significant issues.

Energy Efficiency

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-25590 by Alex Neil on 23 July 2009, whether it is now in a position to provide a breakdown of how the funding under the Home Insulation Scheme will be spent.

Alex Neil: The Energy Saving Trust (EST), as managing agent for the Home Insulation Scheme, is grant funded by the Scottish Government up to a maximum of £14.95 million to directly deliver a range of services in 2009-10 and to procure the delivery of energy efficiency measures, with related additional financial leverage, by third parties.

  The first part of funding within an agreed range of between £5.26 million and £5.8 million (average £5.5 million) directly delivers services to up to 100,000 households in 10 council areas. The services comprise awareness raising, doorstep visits, tailored energy advice, and onward referral of suitable properties for the fitting of insulation measures. The information gathered in this phase will also support better data collection and help councils, government and others to plan future developments.

  That leaves a balance of at least £9.15 million within the Scottish Government contribution to the scheme. The sum is larger than anticipated and has allowed ministers to expand the range of free or discounted measures provided beyond those originally foreseen in the budget to include top-up loft insulation and a range of support through an enabling fund.

  The Energy Saving Trust will procure the delivery of all insulation measures by third parties. This will include a combination of energy efficiency measures provided under the UK Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) programme, which will be part paid for by able-to-pay households and additional measures, either free or discounted, which are not normally available under CERT, directly funded by the Scottish Government.

  £750,000, within the £9.15 million, has been provisionally allocated for an enabling fund to facilitate the uptake of energy efficiency measures in remote rural and island areas, and to support the cost of a list of defined items that enable the provision of energy efficiency measures, for example scaffolding and loft hatches.

  The Scottish Government committed £15 million to the scheme and the grant covers £14.95 million. The remaining £50,000 will be used for evaluation of the scheme.

  Full details of how the arrangements work is set out in the Scottish Government’s Grant Offer Letter to the EST and I have arranged for a copy of that to be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 49351).

Energy Efficiency

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive by what process the Energy Saving Trust was given the Energy Assistance Package contract and what the (a) duration and (b) value is of that contract.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum recommended that the Energy Assistance Package be delivered via the existing Energy Saving Scotland Advice Network rather than by a separate contract. An additional £3.7 million is being provided to Energy Saving Trust this year to manage the Energy Assistance Package under grant in aid funding to the organisation under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The level of grant provided to Energy Saving Trust is reviewed on an annual basis.

Energy Efficiency

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive by what process the Energy Saving Trust was given the Home Insulation Scheme contract and what the (a) duration and (b) value is of that contract

Alex Neil: The Energy Saving Trust (EST) was appointed to act as managing agent for the Home Insulation Scheme (HIS) using powers contained in section 153 (1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as varied by S.I. 1995/554, which allows the grant funding of named bodies, including the Energy Saving Trust, for environmental expenditure. Details on the duration and value of the contract are provided in the answer given to S3W-27661 on 8 October 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  EST is already the grant-funded provider of the Energy Assistance Programme. The decision to run EAP and HIS through the same provider minimised the funds associated with a national delivery infrastructure and shortened the learning curve of how to establish a scheme as well as simplifying the customer journey.

Energy Efficiency

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the administrative costs agreed with the Energy Saving Trust for the Home Insulation Scheme, also expressed as (a) a percentage and (b) per beneficiary.

Alex Neil: The Energy Saving Trust has been grant funded £14.95 million to deliver a range of services to benefit up to 100,000 households in 10 council areas. Councils have already committed £750,000 in complementary investment. In addition the process of fitting insulation measures should lever funding from the UK Carbon Energy Reduction Target scheme and from households. That means the total funding spent during 2009-10 will not be known until the end of the financial year. Most funds will be spent on direct services to benefit up to 100,000 households. Funds spent by Energy Savings Trust in centrally-based staff and IT are estimated to be £623,000. (a) That figure represents 4% of government grant but will be a much lower percentage of the total scheme funds once the additional contributions have been included. (b) The central overheads represent a little over £6 per home visited.

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what management fee is being paid to the Energy Saving Trust for the Energy Assistance Package and the Home Insulation Scheme.

Alex Neil: An additional £3.7 million is being provided to Energy Saving Trust this year to manage the Energy Assistance Package (EAP). This covers costs of providing direct advice and support to clients, costs of liaising with other EAP delivery partners, including data transfers and reporting on outcomes, and national and local marketing.

  Details of the funding to the Energy Saving Trust, as managing agent for the Home Insulation Scheme, are provided in the answers to S3W-27661 and S3W-27664 on 8 October 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the contract for managing the Energy Assistance Package and the Home Insulation Scheme was awarded following EU procurement and tendering rules.

Alex Neil: The Energy Saving Trust was appointed as managing agent for the Energy Assistance Package and Home Insulation Scheme (HIS) by Scottish ministers by way of grant funding using powers contained in section 153(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as varied by S.I. 1995/554, which allows the grant funding of named bodies – including Energy Saving Trust – for environmental expenditure.

  Energy Saving Trust is currently carrying out a procurement exercise to appoint the supplier offering the best deal for HIS customers in a given area. This is an open and competitive process in order to obtain value for money and to reflect EU procurement and regulations.

  An exercise to appoint a managing agent for stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package from 1 April 2010 is currently in progress in accordance with EU procurement and tendering rules.

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26883 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, whether the number of callers and those receiving assistance from the Energy Assistance Package are in line with the original targets.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26883 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, what the previously agreed targets are for the number of callers and those receiving assistance at each stage of the Energy Assistance Package.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26884 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, whether the figure of 75,000 individual contacts is based on the actual number of different people calling rather than the number of separate calls.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26887 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, what target was set for the installation of central heating systems as part of the Energy Assistance Package, excluding legacy installations.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26887 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, whether the installation of 173 central heating systems by the end of August 2009 is lower than expected.

Alex Neil: Indicative targets set for Energy Saving Trust were to achieve 75,000 individual contacts from potentially fuel-poor clients for the Energy Assistance Package (EAP) in 2009-10. It was expected that 50,000 referrals would be made under stage 2, 30,000 at stage 3 and 10,000 at stage 4. The indicative targets are for a 12 month period and it was expected that numbers would build over the year in response to colder weather, awareness of the new package and marketing activity.

  The Fuel Poverty Forum recommended the Scottish Government replace the Central Heating Programme with an Energy Assistance Package that addresses both the home and the householder, and includes tariff advice, welfare benefit and tax credit advice and energy audit with access to grants and loans to improve energy efficiency. Intended outcomes of the EAP are improved energy efficiency, income maximisation and reduction of fuel bills. Installation of central heating systems is only one of the outputs contributing to these outcomes.

  Stage 4 offers eligible households a menu of enhanced physical measures to improve the energy efficiency of the home. Each individual household receives a package of measures tailored to their home and these can include central heating systems, insulation and draught proofing.

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26885 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, what the call rate was immediately before and immediately after the recent direct mail activity.

Alex Neil: Energy Saving Trust has undertaken and is planning a range of activity to market the Energy Assistance Package including a number of different direct mailings. The rising number of callers in each month to date is given in the following table.

  

 
Enquiries to ESSacsabout EAP


 April
 1,967


 May 
 2,071


 June
 2,347


 July 
 3,147


 August
 5,101


 Total
 14,633

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26888 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, for what reason less than half of those surveyed for Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package resulted in successful applications.

Alex Neil: The applications referred to in the answer to question S3W-26888 were all at different stages of the process, but we would expect most to follow through to successful installation of measures. A minority of applications will be found not to be eligible at survey, or the applicant will decide to withdraw their application before completion. Under previous programmes it usually took an average of around six months from application to successful implementation of measures, though in 2008-09 the average time taken to successfully process applications was reduced to an average of five months.

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26892 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, how many contractors are involved in the delivery of the Energy Assistance Package and where they are headquartered.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26892 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, how many small businesses based in Scotland are contractors in the delivery of the Energy Assistance Package.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26890 by Alex Neil MSP on 10 September 2009, whether the Energy Saving Trust appoints and has direct responsibility for contractors at Stage 1, 2 and 3 of the Energy Assistance Package or whether this is done by fuel suppliers.

Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package (EAP) is delivered through a Scottish Government partnership with 10 primary delivery partners. These are: Energy Saving Trust; managing agent for stage 4 (currently Scottish Gas); Citizens Advice Direct; Pensions Service; Scottish Gas (CERT provider); Scottish Power (CERT provider); Scottish and Southern (CERT provider); EDF (Cert Provider); Eon (CERT provider), and nPower (CERT provider).

  Energy Saving Trust manage the overall EAP programme and deliver energy efficiency advice through the Energy Saving Scotland Advice Network. Stage 2 is delivered through referrals by EST to the Pensions Service and Citizens Advice Direct. EST refer stage 3 work to CERT providers and stage 4 to the managing agent. It is a matter for CERT providers and the managing agent whether they carry out work themselves or subcontract to other companies; however we understand that a number of large and small companies are used. The Scottish Government believes that all work should be tendered in a fair and transparent way that complies with EU procurement guidance and supports small businesses to be able to compete for work.

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26893 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, for what reason the Energy Assistance Package takes households only to the level of an Energy Performance Certificate (Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) level of 41) rather than the higher level set out in the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SAP level of 50).

Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package offers a range of services and products to help tackle fuel poverty through improving energy efficiency, reducing fuel bills and maximising incomes. The package is not intended to bring properties up to a benchmark standard of energy efficiency as in the case of the Scottish Housing Quality Standard. The package directs government resources to helping those most likely to be in fuel poverty, targeting enhanced physical measures at those on the lowest incomes living in the least energy efficient homes (sap 38 or below). The sap rating of homes receiving stage four measures to date have increased by an average of 49 points.

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26890 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, whether the Energy Saving Trust appoints and has direct responsibility for contractors on the Home Insulation Scheme.

Alex Neil: Yes. The Energy Saving Trust is responsible for the overall management and delivery of the Home Insulation Scheme, under terms and conditions prescribed by Scottish ministers.

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26890 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, whether it considers that the Energy Saving Trust should have complete ownership and responsibility for all the Energy Assistance Package and Home Insulation Scheme delivery targets.

Alex Neil: Scottish ministers have put in place governance arrangements with Energy Saving Trust for delivery of the Energy Assistance Package and Home Insulation Scheme. EST are responsible for delivering energy efficiency advice, managing the customer journey and referrals under EAP and share responsibility with other delivery partners for successful delivery of the package as a whole.

  The terms and conditions under which the Energy Saving Trust is expected to operate in delivering the Home Insulation Scheme, and details of the service to be provided, are outlined in the grant offer letter issued by the Scottish Government.

  Scottish ministers have asked the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum to monitor implementation of the Energy Assistance Package and Home Insulation Scheme.

Energy Efficiency

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the £7.2 million balance of the £15 million for the Home Insulation Scheme will fund, in light of the Official Journal of the European Union advert inviting tenders for the Home Insulation Scheme at £7.8 million.

Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to the answer to question S3W-27661 on 8 October 2009 which sets out how the total grant funding for the scheme is allocated. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  A minimum of £9.1 million of government funding will be available for those Home Insulation Scheme measures which need to be the subject of a procurement exercise. That exercise will also be how the bulk of additional contributions to the scheme over and above the government’s £15 million contribution are levered.

  The Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) advert excludes VAT as required by OJEU procedures, which is why the figure included in the advert differs from that in the grant offer letter.

Energy Efficiency

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many householders benefited from Stage Two of the Energy Assistance Package in each local authority area during April to July 2009.

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many householders benefited from Stage Three of the Energy Assistance Package in each local authority area during April to July 2009.

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many householders benefited from Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package in each local authority area during April to July 2009.

Alex Neil: The number of applicants between 6 April and 31 August 2009 who have been referred for different types of help under the Energy Assistance Package within each local authority are shown in the following table. It is expected that the number of applicants will increase during autumn and winter and in response to marketing activity, including the television advertisement campaign launched on 18 September.

  Information on the household characteristics of all those who apply to the Energy Assistance Package is not available. Those applicants that are referred for Stage 4 will be required to provide details of age and receipt of qualifying benefits to establish their eligibility for measures at Stage 4, but this information will not be held for all applicants to other stages of the package.

  

 
 Energy Saving Advice Provided
 Income Maximisation Referral
 Tariff Check Signposting
 Stage 3 Referral
 Stage 4 Referral


 Aberdeen City Council
 298
 34
 88
 27
 38


 Aberdeenshire Council
 499
 36
 84
 95
 90


 Angus Council
 328
 33
 94
 74
 50


 Argyll and Bute Council
 222
 21
 66
 69
 62


 Clackmannanshire Council
 127
 31
 40
 26
 8


 Dumfries and Galloway Council
 599
 123
 113
 193
 193


 Dundee City Council
 368
 39
 120
 46
 82


 East Ayrshire Council
 386
 78
 85
 76
 51


 East Dunbartonshire Council
 323
 66
 117
 97
 39


 East Lothian Council
 212
 62
 65
 35
 24


 East Renfrewshire Council
 391
 91
 112
 106
 34


 Falkirk Council
 566
 168
 218
 105
 57


 Fife Council
 1,323
 349
 392
 169
 117


 Glasgow City Council
 1,188
 301
 494
 228
 170


 Highland Council
 696
 78
 183
 188
 100


 Inverclyde Council
 302
 67
 102
 55
 38


 Midlothian Council
 232
 66
 78
 39
 17


 North Ayrshire Council
 437
 114
 109
 103
 62


 North Lanarkshire Council
 863
 258
 338
 204
 113


 Orkney Islands Council
 95
 7
 13
 7
 13


 Perth and Kinross Council
 391
 38
 87
 109
 62


 Renfrewshire Council
 536
 149
 212
 136
 66


 Scottish Borders Council
 343
 91
 76
 50
 55


 Shetland Island Council
 21
 7
 5
 3
 7


 South Ayrshire Council
 462
 96
 75
 141
 74


 South Lanarkshire Council
 960
 245
 374
 221
 146


 Stirling Council
 338
 84
 135
 74
 36


 The City of Edinburgh Council
 962
 201
 239
 144
 109


 The Moray Council
 227
 22
 40
 57
 41


 West Dunbartonshire Council
 214
 64
 87
 46
 25


 West Lothian Council
 423
 100
 153
 82
 23


 Western Isles Islands Council
 94
 20
 29
 25
 24


 Total
 14,431
 3,139
 4,426
 3,031
 2,026

Energy Efficiency

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many householders aged 75 or over benefited from the Energy Assistance Package in each local authority area during April to July 2009.

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many householders aged 60 or over and receiving a qualifying benefit benefited from the Energy Assistance Package in each local authority area during April to July 2009.

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many householders with a child under five and receiving a qualifying benefit benefited from the Energy Assistance Package in each local authority area during April to July 2009.

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many householders with a disabled child under 16 and receiving a qualifying benefit benefited from the Energy Assistance Package in each local authority area during April to July 2009.

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many householders who are pregnant and receiving a qualifying benefit benefited from the Energy Assistance Package in each local authority area during April to July 2009.

Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27707 on 8 October 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  The information on households benefiting from the Energy Assistance Package is not broken down by household characteristics and local authority.

Energy Efficiency

Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to improve energy efficiency and promote the use of micro-renewable electricity generation.

Jim Mather: As one of the Scottish Government’s 10 Energy Pledges, energy efficiency is a key element of both our economic recovery programme and our climate change response. The Scottish Government is taking action across all sectors, aimed at reducing energy demand, cutting carbon emissions and contributing to sustainable economic growth.

  The Climate Change (Scotland) Act commits us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2020 and by 80% by 2050, and includes a mandatory provision to publish an Energy Efficiency Action Plan and report on its progress annually to parliament.

  The Energy Efficiency Action Plan consultation paper will be released this month, with the plan being published following the consultation. The consultation paper will outline action that we have taken to date on energy efficiency and microgeneration, and seek feedback on what more we all could be doing.

  We are also working with the energy companies to leverage more delivery of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), the main mechanism we have for improving domestic energy efficiency, and the insulation work that goes with this. CERT measures in Scotland are being delivered in a way that is complementary to our Energy Assistance Package. We continue to fund the Energy Saving Trust and Carbon Trust to provide energy efficiency advice to all sectors and have now introduced our area-based Home Insulation Scheme.

Enterprise

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17458 by Jim Mather on 19 November 2008, whether £10 million for the Saltire Prize is included in the budget for 2010-11.

Jim Mather: As a challenge-based prize it is difficult to predict the exact date of the £10 million award. However, the Saltire Prize has been allocated within the current spending review period with the £10 million committed in period 2010-11.

Fire Safety

Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the number of fires and fire deaths.

Fergus Ewing: Any death from fire is a tragedy. I recognise the vital work of our Fire and Rescue Services across Scotland, particularly on fire safety and prevention. The good work done has contributed to the long term downward trend in fire deaths. The latest figures show that the total number of primary fires – including house fires – were down for the eighth consecutive year.

  But I recognise that more needs to be done. This was why I, with the support of COSLA, asked Brian Sweeney, Chief Officer for Strathclyde Fire and Rescue to establish a group to examine the root causes of fire deaths and injuries.

  I expect Mr Sweeney to publish his report next month. Due to the seriousness of this issue, I have requested a debate to give members the opportunity to fully discuss the report in Parliament.

Fuel Poverty

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Housing and Communities last met the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum and what matters were discussed.

Alex Neil: The independent Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum meets quarterly. The Minister for Housing and Communities has not met the forum as a collective group but has met with individual member organisations at a number of different events. For example, the minister addressed a stakeholder event on 27 February 2009, chaired by the chair of the forum on the subject of the Energy Assistance Package and CERT delivery was discussed at the CERT Strategy Steering Group, chaired by the minister, on 27 May 2009.

Glasgow Airport Rail Link (Cancellation)

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the decision to cancel the Glasgow Airport Rail Link was evaluated against any proposal for the cancellation of any other major transport project.

Stewart Stevenson: In considering the Draft Budget for 2010-11, the Scottish Government had to take into account the significant pressures that had arisen in 2010-11, including budget reductions imposed upon us by the UK Government, and the expectation that this pressure would grow, in line with the Treasury’s forecasts (in the Chancellor’s Red Book) of major capital scarcity in the medium term.

  As a responsible administration, the Scottish Government has had to begin planning for this period of scarcity, to help ensure that available funding continues to be directed toward front line services, and one of the steps we reluctantly decided to take was to cancel the branch line element of Glasgow Airport Rail Link, because this project required significant capital in the next three years.

Glasgow Airport Rail Link (Cancellation)

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3F-1909 by Alex Salmond on 24 September 2009 ( Official Report , c. 19971), whether it will itemise the works or other forms of expenditure that amount to £70 million, showing the costs ascribed to each item and the financial year in which it had been anticipated that this expenditure would have fallen.

Stewart Stevenson: The most recent costs (September 2009) for reprovision/compensation within the Glasgow Airport campus total £70 million (Q3/2013 prices), which is broken down by element in the following table:

  

 Element
Rounded Value
  (£ million)
 Financial Year Spend Would Fall
 Comments


 Fuel Farm capital construction costs
 32
 2009-10 and 2010-11
 Based on tender returns 2009 from BAA for an enhanced fuel farm


 Fuel Farm compensation costs
 5
 2010-11
 Based on concluded negotiations involving TS/BAA/Pentland Aviation and the District Valuer


 Happitots nursery capital construction costs
 1.4
 2009-10 and 2010-11
 Based on construction of new building for BAA to rent to tenant, Happitots at Abbotsinch Rd site


 Car Rental Companies back up facilities
 8
 2009-10 and 2010-11
 Based on construction of new combined facility to be owned by BAA and operated under various arrangements between BAA and Car Rental Companies at Abbotsinch Rd site


 New Multi Storey Car Park (MSCP)
 11
 2009-10 and 2010-11
 To reprovide for car rental "ready and return" area and for affected public car parking spaces. Based on construction of new MSCP to be owned by BAA and operated under various arrangements between BAA and CAR Rental Companies and Car Park operator


 BAA compensation claim 
 3.7
 2012-13
 Based on submission from BAA


 Transport Scotland estimated "other" costs
 5
 2010-11 and 2012-13
 Generated by TS and includes estimates for other potentially affected third parties on airport campus and an element of risk provision


 Reimbursement of BAA staff and advisor costs
 3.9
(£2.6 million) up to 2009-10 
(£1.3 million) 2010-11 thru 2012-13
 Costs to develop GARL within the BAA campus under terms of the Master Agreement – based on invoice values from BAA to date and a further forecast of £1.3m to complete


 Total
 70

Healthcare Associated Infections

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients contracted the winter vomiting virus in NHS Ayrshire and Arran hospitals in each of the last five years, broken down by hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is not possible to specifically identify the numbers of patients contracting norovirus (the pathogen responsible for winter vomiting) in NHS hospitals in Scotland.

  The following table shows (a) the number of confirmed and suspected outbreaks of norovirus (b) the total number of cases ill (i.e. displaying symptoms typical of norovirus infection) and (c) the total number of cases ill who tested positive for norovirus, as reported by hospitals in NHS Ayrshire and Arran between 2004 and 2008.

  The figures are derived from Health Protection Scotland’s ObSurv surveillance system for general outbreaks of infectious intestinal diseases.

  For the purpose of ObSurv an outbreak is defined as an incident in which two or more linked cases experience the same illness, or when the observed number of cases unaccountably exceeds the expected number. The system seeks information on general outbreaks, defined as outbreaks affecting members of more than one household or residents of an institution.

  Outbreaks of Norovirus are reported as confirmed or suspected. Confirmed outbreaks are outbreaks in which one or more positive laboratory samples are obtained from cases in the outbreak. Suspected outbreaks are based on the judgement of the local infection teams/public health teams.

  The figures presented below are indicative and should be interpreted with caution. In particular, please note:

  The apparent increase in the numbers of outbreaks, cases ill and cases ill who test positive in 2008 is due to a combination of improved reporting to ObSurv and elevated UK-wide community norovirus activity in the winter of 2007-08.

  For further information please refer to the Health Protection Scotland website:

  http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/giz/outbreaks.aspx?subjectid=5,23@44.

  Confirmed and Suspected outbreaks of Norovirus reported to ObSurv from hospitals in Ayrshire and Arran 2004-08:

  

 
 
 Hospital


 NHS Ayrshire and Arran
 Ailsa Hospital
 Arrol Park
 Ayr Hospital
 Ayrshire Central Hospital


 2004
 
 
 
 
 


 Norovirus outbreaks (confirmed/suspected)
 6
 1
 -
 -
 2


 Total ill
 72
 11
 -
 -
 33


 Total ill and positive
 11
 1
 -
 -
 6


 2005
 
 
 
 
 


 Norovirus outbreaks (confirmed/suspected)
 6
 2
 -
 -
 -


 Total ill
 193
 110
 -
 -
 -


 Total ill and positive
 2
 2
 -
 -
 -


 2006
 
 
 
 
 


 Norovirus outbreaks (confirmed/suspected)
 8
 1
 -
 3
 1


 Total ill
 59
 12
 -
 20
 10


 Total ill and positive
 4
 -
 -
 4
 -


 2007
 
 
 
 
 


 Norovirus outbreaks (confirmed/suspected)
 8
 1
 -
 4
 -


 Total ill
 102
 8
 -
 68
 -


 Total ill and positive
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 2008
 
 
 
 
 


 Norovirus outbreaks (confirmed/suspected)
 69
 4
 1
 16
 3


 Total ill
 1,122
 38
 4
 306
 36


 Total ill and positive
 42
 -
 -
 12
 -



  Source: Health Protection Scotland ObsSurv (infectious intestinal disease surveillance system).

  Notes:

  - denotes 0 (zero).

  N/K = not known.

  Confirmed and Suspected outbreaks of Norovirus reported to ObSurv from hospitals in Ayrshire and Arran 2004-08:

  

 
 
 Hospital


 Biggart Hospital
 Crosshouse Hospital
 Davidson Hospital
 East Ayrshire Community Hospital
 Kirklandside Hospital


 2004
 
 
 
 
 


 Norovirus outbreaks (confirmed/suspected)
 -
 2
 1
 -
 -


 Total ill
 -
 19
 9
 -
 -


 Total ill and positive
 -
 1
 3
 -
 -


 2005
 
 
 
 
 


 Norovirus outbreaks (confirmed/suspected)
 -
 3
 -
 1
 -


 Total ill
 -
 41
 -
 42
 -


 Total ill and positive
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 2006
 
 
 
 
 


 Norovirus outbreaks (confirmed/suspected)
 1
 2
 -
 -
 -


 Total ill
 N/K
 17
 -
 -
 -


 Total ill and positive
 N/K
 -
 -
 -
 -


 2007
 
 
 
 
 


 Norovirus outbreaks (confirmed/suspected)
 1
 2
 -
 -
 -


 Total ill
 4
 22
 -
 -
 -


 Total ill and positive
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 2008
 
 
 
 
 


 Norovirus outbreaks (confirmed/suspected)
 11
 32
 -
 -
 2


 Total ill
 213
 515
 -
 -
 10


 Total ill and positive
 7
 23
 -
 -
 -



  Source: Health Protection Scotland ObsSurv (infectious intestinal disease surveillance system).

  Notes:

  - denotes 0 (zero).

  N/K = not known.

Housing

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been housed in temporary accommodation in the Lothians parliamentary region in each year since 2007, broken down by local authority area.

Alex Neil: The table shows, for each local authority area in the Lothians parliamentary region, the number of homeless households in temporary accommodation at the end of each quarter from 31 March 2007 to 31 March 2009, the latest date for which information is available. The table gives numbers of homeless households who have been placed in temporary accommodation as part of their application for homelessness assistance. This includes households awaiting a homelessness assessment, households waiting for suitable permanent accommodation to be found and households placed in temporary accommodation as the outcome of their application.

  Number of Homeless Households in Temporary Accommodation

  

 
 
 East Lothian
 Edinburgh
 Midlothian
 West Lothian


 2007
 31 March
 192
 595
 310
 326


 30 June
 180
 613
 225
 306


 30 September
 188
 673
 167
 345


 31 December
 203
 684
 160
 351


 2008
 31 March
 207
 691
 195
 349


 30 June
 204
 715
 290
 275


 30 September
 225
 714
 317
 359


 31 December
 237
 687
 296
 366


 2009
 31 March
 261
 685
 308
 370

Piers and Harbours

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for investment in Scrabster Harbour.

Stewart Stevenson: We currently have no plans for investment in Scrabster Harbour. This is in line with established ports policy which is based on a market driven approach to ports investment and funding.

Planning

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is a consensus of support for proposals to consolidate planning policy guidance into a single document.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26758 on 22 September 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Prison Service

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) longest, (b) shortest and (c) average prison sentence was at HMP Edinburgh for someone incarcerated for carrying an offensive weapon.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  As of 5 October 2009, there was a total of nine convicted prisoners in HMP Edinburgh with an offence of "Offensive Weapon", the longest sentence being 18 months, the shortest being 80 days and the average sentence being seven months.

Procurement

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which capital investment projects are (a) under construction, (b) in procurement, (c) approaching procurement and (d) in prospect.

John Swinney: We have a considerable capital investment programme of £10.5 billion over the current spending review period from 2008-09 to 2010-11.

  Projects where the Scottish Government is providing all or part funding, and which have a significant capital value of £50 million or more, have been provided in the following tables.

  (a) Projects under Construction1

  

 Project
Estimated Capital Value 
  (£ Million)


 Aberdeen City Schools NPD
 120


 Airdrie to Bathgate Rail Link
 375


 City of Edinburgh Council PFI
 169


 Court Unification
 61


 Dumfries and Galloway Schools PFI
 109


 Edinburgh Trams
 500


 Edinburgh Waverley Station2
 135


 Paisley Corridor Improvements3
 182


 Inverclyde Schools PFI
 80


 M74 Completion
 692


 M80 Stepps to Haggs PFI
 320


 NHS Fife - Victoria Infirmary PFI
 170


 NHS Forth Valley - Forth Valley Acute Hospital PFI
 293


 Parliament House
 63


 Perth and Kinross Schools PFI
 136


 South Lanarkshire Schools PFI 
 319


 The State Hospital Carstairs
 90


 West Dunbartonshire Schools PFI
 114


 West Lothian Schools PFI
 61



  (b) Projects in Procurement

  

 Project
 Estimated Capital Value 
  (£ Million)


 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Schools NPD
 52


 Forth Replacement Crossing 
 1,720- 2,340


 HMP Shotts, Phase 1
 61


 Moray Schools NPD
 50


 National Indoor Sports Arena Glasgow
 124


 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – New South Glasgow Hospitals
 842


 NHS Tayside - Mental Health Development NPD
 98


 Orkney Islands Schools NPD
 50



  (c) Projects Approaching Procurement

  

 Project
 Estimated Capital Value (£m)


 Borders Railway NPD
 235-295


 Edinburgh to Glasgow Rail Improvement Programme 4
 1,164


 Glasgow City Centre Colleges
 300


 Glasgow School of Art
 50


 Scottish Crime Campus – Gartcosh
 65



  (d) Projects in Prospect

  

Project
Estimated Capital Value (£ Million)


A90 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route NPD
295-395


A90 Balmedie to Tipperty Dualling
53-63


Highland Main Line
50-90


HMP Grampian
110


M74 Raith Interchange NPD
56-61


M8 Associated Network Improvements NPD
53-63


M8 Baillieston to Newhouse NPD
170-210


NHS Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary refurbishment
36-222


NHS Ayrshire and Arran – Mental Health
53


NHS Grampian Emergency Care Centre, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
95


NHS Lanarkshire Monklands General Hospital
400


NHS Lothian – Clinical Neurosciences
28-53


NHS Lothian Royal Edinburgh Hospital
135


NHS Lothian Royal Hospital for Sick Children
148


Schools Building Programme 
1,250



  Notes:

  1. The contract for the £130 million HMP Low Moss was signed in July 2009. This has not been included in table (a) as subject to full planning permission being granted, construction will not commence until February 2010.

  2. Edinburgh Waverley Main Station Infrastructure works are complete. The last element of the project to improve accessibility of ‘‘Waverley Steps’’ continues as a stand alone project.

  3. Following a Parliamentary announcement on 17 September 2009, the branchline element of Glasgow Airport Rail Link/PCR has been cancelled. However, the mainline works on the Paisley corridor are being undertaken by Network Rail and funded through Regulatory Asset Base. This continues on time and budget. The current value is £182 million with full passenger service expected in Q1 2012.

  4. Edinburgh to Glasgow Rail Improvement Programme is currently at Outline Design Stage with outline design work progressing to schedule.

Rail Network

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many residents along the route of the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line had a noise and vibration impact assessment carried out at their property before the line was operational.

Stewart Stevenson: One hundred and eighty-nine residential pre-construction condition surveys were undertaken prior to the commencement of construction.

Rail Network

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many residents along the route of the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line have made requests for a follow-up noise and vibration assessment since the line was operational and how many of those requests have been met.

Stewart Stevenson: One person has made a request for a follow-up residential pre-construction condition survey.

Rail Services

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation took place with ScotRail before the decision was taken to end the food and drink trolley service on the 6:20 rail service from Wick to Inverness.

Stewart Stevenson: The provision of food and drink trolley services on trains is not part of the specification for services contracted in the ScotRail Franchise agreement and is a commercial matter for ScotRail. Therefore no formal consultation is required before ScotRail took the decision to end the food and drink trolley on the 6:20 service from Wick to Inverness

Rail Services

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the recommendations are regarding the provision of foodstuffs on long rail journeys.

Stewart Stevenson: No recommendations are made regarding the provision of foodstuffs on long rail journeys.

Rail Services

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many tourists use the early morning rail service from Wick to Inverness.

Stewart Stevenson: Within the total passenger numbers there is no way of telling how many tourists use the early morning rail service from Wick to Inverness.

Rail Services

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it subsidises food and drink trolley services on rail services.

Stewart Stevenson: The provision of food and drink trolley services on trains is not part of the specification for services contracted in the franchise agreement and is a commercial matter for ScotRail. The Scottish Government does not therefore subsidise food and drink trolley services on rail services.

Roads

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will estimate the cost of building a grade-separated junction on the A90 at Laurencekirk.

Stewart Stevenson: The member will know from my response to his recent written question, S3W-27346, that to estimate the cost of any such junction requires thorough investigation and design. As there are no current plans to construct a grade separated junction at Laurencekirk, no detailed cost information is available. However, a grade separated junction with a dual carriageway such as the A90 is typically in the range £4.3 million to £22 million (2002-03 prices).

Roads

Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money was invested in the trunk road network in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is not available broken down by local authority area, however it is held by region and this has been provided in the following table:

  

 Major Projects Expenditure
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08
 2008-09


£million
£million
£million
£million
£million


 Highland
 2
 2
 3
 15
 17


 Aberdeenshire
 7
 9
 8
 13
 37


 Moray
 0
 0
 0
 1
 3


 Argyll and Bute
 -
 -
 0
 0
 1


 Perthshire and Kinross
 1
 2
 19
 15
 3


 Scottish Borders
 1
 3
 9
 20
 10


 Fife
 8
 5
 51
 49
 45


 Glasgow2
 27
 101
 82
 27
 79


 Angus
 0
 0
 0
 -
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 3
 1
 5
 15
 12


 Ayrshire
 25
 3
 2
 9
 21


 Lothian
 9
 1
 0
 1
 3


 Total 
 83
 126
 179
 164
 230


 Operating/Maintenance Expenditure4
 268
 166
 191
 209
 168


 Total Spend
 351
 292
 370
 373
 398



  Notes:

  1. The figures have not been converted to today’s prices.

  2. Glasgow includes Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire.

  3. Some projects straddle regional boundaries and the predominant region has been chosen.

  4. Operating/maintenance expenditure is all expenditure not relating to schemes published on the Scottish Motorway and Trunk Road Programme. It includes:

  Structural Repairs,

  Routine and Winter Maintenance,

  Network Strengthening,

  DBFO payments,

  Minor Improvements.

  The nature of this type of expenditure does not enable it to be broken down by region.

Scottish Investment Bank

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide details of its proposed Scottish Investment Bank.

John Swinney: The development of the Scottish Investment Bank is a complex task with a wide range of issues to consider. However, good progress has been made to date, with the Scottish Investment Bank Ltd now incorporated as a legal entity by Scottish Enterprise. In addition to the £150 million already earmarked for Scottish growth small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the First Minister’s announcement of the Scottish Investment Bank, a further £2 million in European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), supported by £3 million matched funding from Scottish Enterprise, has been allocated to enhance the Scottish Co-investment Fund in the Highlands and Islands area. Work is continuing to consider what further resources might allow the Scottish Investment Bank to offer a wider range of financial products to Scottish growth SMEs. We will continue to keep the Parliament informed as this work progresses.

Scottish Qualification Authority

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when its review of the Scottish Qualifications Authority’s accommodation in Dalkeith will be concluded.

Keith Brown: At a time of increasing economic and public sector pressures, it is vital that all possible options are considered carefully to ensure that whatever decision is made will deliver the best possible balance between value for money and the effective delivery of the key services that the Scottish Qualifications Authority provides for the people of Scotland. Resolving that against the background of a rapidly changing property market has taken longer than expected. We are very conscious of the need for this issue to be concluded and as soon we are in a position to make an announcement we will do so.

Tourism

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to help tourism.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government’s tourism strategy aims to increase tourism revenue to Scotland by 50% by 2015. The government sponsors VisitScotland to market Scotland according its strengths and by what the visitor is looking for. Many other public agencies play a role in supporting tourism, including enterprise agencies, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Development International, Scottish Natural Heritage, Historic Scotland, the Forestry Commission, and of course local authorities.

Traffic Management Act 2004

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the powers contained in the Traffic Management Act 2004 apply to Scottish local authorities.

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the powers contained in the Traffic Management Act 2004 could not be introduced by the Scottish Executive.

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the powers contained in the Traffic Management Act 2004 are reserved to the UK Parliament under the Scotland Act 1998.

Stewart Stevenson: The Traffic Management Act 2004 is a United Kingdom Act which does not apply in Scotland.

Transport

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimates are for the (a) total cost and (b) completion date of the (i) Edinburgh to Glasgow Rail Improvement Programme, (ii) Airdrie Bathgate Rail Link Project, (iii) Waverley Railway Project, (iv) planned Edinburgh Airport rail station, (v) Edinburgh Trams project, (vi) Forth Replacement Crossing, (vii) M74 extension, (viii) M8 Completion, (ix) M80 completion, (x) Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, (xi) upgrade to the A9 and (xii) upgrade to the A96.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which major transport projects it considered cancelling before its decision to cancel the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

Stewart Stevenson: The figures as requested are shown in the following table:

  

 Project
 (a) Total Estimated Cost
 (b) Estimated Completion Date


 (i) Edinburgh to Glasgow Rail Improvement Programme (EGIP)
£1.164 billion
 2016


 (ii) Airdrie Bathgate Rail Link Project
£375 million
 December 2010


(iii) Waverley Railway Project
  Waverley StationWaverley Steps
£116 million
£17 million
Completed 2007-08
2011-12


 (iv) planned Edinburgh Airport rail station
 Reported as part of EGIP and not independently.


 (v) Edinburgh Trams project
£500 million fixed contribution from the Scottish Government. Total cost is a matter for City of Edinburgh Council
 2012-13


 (vi) Forth Replacement Crossing
£1.7 to £2.3 billion
 2016-17


 (vii) M74 Extension
£692 million
 2011-12


(viii) M8 Completion
  M8 Baillieston – Newhouse
  M8 Associated Network Improvements
£170 to £210 million
£53 to £63 million
2013-14
2012-13


 (ix) M80 Completion (Stepps to Haggs)
£320 million
 2011-12


 (x) Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route
£295 to £395 million
 2012-13


(xi) upgrade to the A9
  A9 Bankfoot
  A9 Carrbridge
  A9 Moy 2 + 1
  A9 Slochd
  A9 Loaninghead
  A9 Crubenmore
  A9 Kincraig
£2.7 million
  £2.7 million
  £2.3 million
  £4.2 million
  £1 million
  £11 million
£12 million
Opened August 2009
  Opened June 2009
  2009-10
  2011-12
  2010-11
  2011-12
2011-12


(xii) upgrade to the A96
A96 Fochabers
  A96 Threapland
 
£45 million
  £5 million
 
2011-12
2011-12

Waste Management

Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of municipal waste was sent to energy from waste (EFW) plants in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) type of EFW facility.

Richard Lochhead: The following table gives a break down of the percentage of municipal waste sent to energy from waste (EFW) plants in the last five years, broken down by local authority. Historically there have been two plants in Scotland; one in Dundee (Fluidised Bed incinerator) and the other on Shetland (Moving Grate incinerator). The Shetland incinerator handles waste from Shetland Islands and Orkney Islands Councils and the Dundee incinerator waste from Dundee, Angus and Perth and Kinross Councils.

  In the last two years, Dumfries and Galloway Council has started to produce refuse derived fuel (RDF) from Mechanical Biological Treatment plant which they use to process their municipal waste. There are currently plans underway to send the RDF produced by the facility to be burned at the nearby Scotgen gasification facility.

  Percentage Municipal Waste Incinerated (Inputs)

  

 Local Authority
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08
 2008-09


 Angus
 24.3
 31.9
 12.0
 23.3
 20.7


 Dundee
 55.7
 64.6
 57.4
 61.2
 58.6


 East Renfrewshire
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.2


 Edinburgh
 0.0
 0.0
 0.1
 0.0
 0.0


 Highland
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.7
 0.6


 Orkney Islands
 59.5
 62.0
 59.8
 63.1
 58.3


 Perth and Kinross
 1.7
 2.0
 0.9
 0.8
 1.0


 Scottish Borders
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.0
 0.2


 Shetland Islands
 64.1
 69.8
 73.3
 72.9
 71.5


 West Lothian
 0.0
 0.0
 0.1
 0.1
 0.0


 Scottish Average
 2.7
 3.1
 2.4
 2.9
 3.1



  Source: SEPA’s Local Authority Waste Arisings Survey, 2004-05 to 2005-06; WasteDataFlow, 2006-07 to 2008-09.